Everything recreational cannabis, pot, or weed in Portland.

With Oregon’s passing of recreational sale for October, big things are on the horizon. The period of tax-free weed will be from October to whenever the first store opens. You will be limited in the amount that you can buy per visit, as they have to regulate these sales. Come July, or whenever the first store opens, weed will be taxed 25%, so the goal is to stock up.

This is made easier by the sheer amount of dispensaries in the Portland area. It is still unknown as to which are opening up recreationally for sure, but most seem to be planning on it and are preparing for that influx of sales. This influx of sales, however, will be spread out across literally hundreds of locations, and dispensaries need to stand out. Despite donating samples to awesome events like Franco’s Fun Bus or Marijuana Mondays at the Analog, dispensaries and vendors can impress with features such as a delivery service. According to weedmaps.com, there is only a handful of delivery-only medical suppliers. There are a few more in the Portland area that are not listed on weedmaps (which allows you to use search filters), but the first question on everyone’s minds is “will they sell recreationally?” Just as it applies to retail dispensaries, it applies to delivery-only dispensaries.

There are two things should happen, as a result of this question (which the answer to is most likely, yes, by the way). The first thing that should happen is that more dispensaries should offer a Portland weed delivery service in general. So many patients could benefit from it – the traffic alone in Portland can throw off someone’s ability to get their medications. The second is that those dispensaries should turn around and deliver recreationally once October hits. It would allow for more people to stay off the highways, lessening by a little the traffic problem of which we’re all a part. This would be particularly helpful during the upcoming recreational period when the stores themselves are chaos. At least with a delivery experience, it’s more one on one, rather than feeling someone breathing down your neck waiting for you to finish with the budtender. Delivery is a good opportunity to wow with customer service, and really establish the fan base that is needed to survive the next year.

Imagine opening your door to an experienced budtender and a briefcase full of marijuana products. That will be possible at the rate we’re going. You’ll be free to do things like ask your expert all the questions you’re maybe too nervous to ask either a dealer or a budtender in a store full of people. You can take your time with your deal (to an extent) in the comfort of your own home. Then you can consume immediately and enjoy the effects of your purchases without having to get back anywhere. So what’s the verdict? OMMP Card Holders: tell your favorite dispensary to deliver!

It was obvious that legalizing weed in July would bring huge changes for Oregon, but who knew it would actually be happening so quickly? If you had asked me just one year ago if my next tour of Portland would be on a bus while taking high-quality dabs from high-quality pieces, I would not have believed you. Even now, the second-ever Franco’s Fun Bus feels like it was too good to be true. But no, it happened, and boy, was it amazing.

When you go out to a bar with friends, your average beer costs $4 and mixed drink about $8, and that’s me being generous. For marijuana extraordinaire Franco, of Portland-based concentrate company Franco’s Finest, a night of drinking seems like a night to forget. Drinking out is expensive and unrewarding in the long-term. Franco decided to create something for smoking that embraces Portland nightlife without being a part of the bar scene. Thus, Franco’s Fun Bus was born!

Tickets for Franco’s Fun Bus are $125 regularly, with discount codes and “early bird” options readily available. It is an expensive activity, but when I say it’s worth it, trust me, it’s worth it. Franco teamed up with amazing vendors like Oregon’s Finest, Ideal Farms, Natural Wonders (site coming soon), Uplift Botanicals, Primo Extracts, Trillium Extracts, Canna Refinery, Sour Bhotz, Hide PDX, Earl’s Edibles, Jolly Greens, and more. Not only does Franco donate endless dabs throughout the night (lovely hosts and hostesses will take size requests – ranging from itty bitty to big ol’ slabs), but we each came home with a dab swag bag full of goodies from the fine vendors. When you figure you need a budget for marijuana products anyways, the dab bus makes perfect sense. So, exactly how fun was it?

As my friends and I commuted to Pioneer Square, the butterflies in my stomach were a result of not knowing exactly what to expect. There we were to board Franco’s Fun Bus and drive around Portland for a scheduled 4 hours of dabbing and executive party-bussing. I had no idea what lied ahead. I was picturing hosts and hostesses balancing glass and torches and dabbers in an aisle on a school bus type thing. We arrived early and were watching them set up “The Lego Movie” for a bit when Franco’s business partner Rosie greeted us with a friendly wave. “Dab Bus?!” she said, and we rang back in a chorus: “dab bus!” This was going to be awesome. Eventually (almost) the whole party trickled in, and we were waiting on the bus and one other member of our fun bus family. Our last member arrived just before the bus rolled around the corner and up to the curb. “Executive” didn’t even begin to cover it. With its black tinted windows and handsome party-bus host descending to greet us, it finally set in. This was real. Fifteen stoners were about to get the ride of a lifetime.

With this being such a new event, it’s been far from sold out. Between the small number of us and things like the couch/TV in the bathroom, the executive aspect of this bus couldn’t feel any more real. Everyone was able to take turns dabbing, and I feel confidently speaking for all of us when I say no one was left out. If you wanted to dab, you would just sit down on one of the cozy leather seats near Franco and enjoy.

There’s no precedent for an event like this, so rule of thumb was to treat this outing like any other party bus with people drinking on board. For one thing, that meant no open flame. The beautiful solution? An e-nail! If you’re unfamiliar with e-nails, they attach to titanium nails and keep the metal at a constant temperature. That means your rig will never cool down too quickly, and your dab will be as hot as you like it. Not to mention, so long as there is oil on the nail, it will continue to burn. With e-nails, one person can take a dab, not finish it, and pass on the rig to the next no problem. In short? No dab left behind, and that was certainly the theme throughout.

Some of the strains we tried on the bus were Franco’s concentrate of the month, New York Pineapple Diesel, and some other favorites, like Hot Mess and Buddha’s Grape Dream. Early on I knew this would be a night for heavy hitters, I myself had twelve dabs total (a number that I’ll probably never reach again in one sitting, until I go to the next Fun Bus, that is…). The two rigs we used were both strong in different ways. The glass came from Mary Jane’s House of Glass, a high-quality American-made headshop. The first piece we used was an MIO (Made In Oregon) brand typical inline percolator dab rig – heavy with a nice function. I have an MIO bong in my personal collection: they’re affordable and really nice quality. The second was a Honey Supplydouble u-percolator that had a chuggy yet smooth feel to it. I think in the end I preferred the Honey Supply, but I loved trying both. Between the high quality concentrates and the nicely functioning rigs, coughing was controlled. In my world, that really means something. The option to go hard in terms of consumption was definitely there, but so was the option to sit back, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere.

Our first “attraction” after downtown Portland was the St. John’s Bridge. Franco’s Fun Bus had a whole itinerary for the evening: drive down St. John’s Bridge, go to Rocky Butte, the Division Food Carts, the Waterfront, and finally back to ‘Pio Square.’ Like stoners, we more or less followed the schedule, but we rolled up to Rocky Butte at the perfect time. Rocky Butte is a destination in Portland due to its gorgeous views. As the sun was setting, the group of us got off the dab bus (a scene as funny as it sounds) and ascended the stone stairs just as the blue moon was rising. People were gathered playing music, picnicking, enjoying themselves, as we all watched the sky get dark around the magnificent moon. It was incredible, and added depth to this seemingly shallow recreation. We all felt a sublime appreciation.

Walking back to the bus, more dabs were inevitable, and so were munchies. In addition to the amazing snacks supplied on the bus (hello m&ms, gummy bears, and caramel popcorn), the goal was to stop at the food carts. We got off the dab bus and unleashed a certain kind of hell upon these SE Division food carts. A very stoney, giggly, docile kind of hell. Innocent bystanders gawking as we got off this bus like some kind of pothead Partridge family, ready to gnaw on some grub. Lots of us got waffles at Smaaken Waffles, due to the fact that it was still open and “prepared” for our business. It was delicious, and my leftovers turned to rightnows real quick. Filing back onto the bus, our last stop was the waterfront.

This stop was a bit of a decompressant – we pulled up and there was no rush. We still had dabs going down on the bus, while the waterfront patiently waited outside. The Fun Bus had brought to a particular spot where there was a picturesque weeping willow tree against the city and river backdrop. Though it felt like I never wanted the party to end, this was a nice spot to collect oneself and prepare for the real world again. We got back on the bus and drove to Pio Square. Franco and Rosie were so kind, and so appreciative, that the whole experience felt like it had been a field trip led by the two best “chaperones” ever. I would give the Fun Bus experience 5 stars, and recommend it as a new must-do for Portland recreational nightlife.

On our way off the bus, we grabbed the final exciting piece to the puzzle – the swag bags! Oregon’s Finest supplied us with cloth drawstring bags to hold everything, and when my friends and I got home, it was like dumping out candy on Halloween night. Some things that stand out? Concentrates from Franco, Uplift Botanicals, Primo Extracts, and Trillium Extracts. There’s a “Cannabis Cure-All” from Luminous Botanicals that’s for “edible, topical, or sensual use.” Kind Heart Collective donated some flower from the girl scout cookies strain, Sativica Wellness threw in a balm and some capsules, and I’m stoked to try my Sour Bhotz edible. There are some wrinkles to work out, of course – like maybe some more labeling and instructions from the vendors – but that’s to be expected when you’re only two tries in to the next big recreational thing.

A gigantic thank you to Franco and his Fun Bus crew. To say that this is an experience of a lifetime would be to sell it short. Did you ever think you would see the day? Activities like this will bring so much awareness and new interest to the recreational marijuana world, and this is just the very beginning. Now you can dab bus, too! Reasonably priced, totally legal, and seriously FUN – will you be on the next one?

July 1st hits, and your law abiding self is just getting your first seeds. But what happens between that ultimate first step, and the smokable end result? The Oregon Liquor Control Commission clarifies that July 1st marks the moment you can trade and gift marijuana to and from friends or others (whatslegaloregon.com). That’s great and all, but what are those to do whom have no acquaintances familiar with marijuana? Theoretically, no one but medical patients right now has smokable flower and extracts. Oregon could temporarily designate medical dispensaries (or some hours of operation?) to sell recreationally, and get the benefits of Measure 91 started right away.

As it stands, the OLCC won’t accept recreational applications until January 4th, 2016 – more than half a year from now. They predict that they’ll issue licenses “sometime next year.” Not that we should be ungrateful for Measure 91, but we could learn from the problems that arose from a delayed recreational market. Firstly, Oregon could make a ton of tax revenue in these summer months. Dispensaries could set guidelines that recreational users abide by and respect, and in turn, supply medical weed recreationally. A funnel of money would go back into the state. Not to mention? Away from the black market. That means all the money you’ve been giving to the neighbor that’s been upselling? It would go back into Oregon’s Common School Fund and Mental Health Alcoholism and Drug Services Account. Instead of dealing with a dealer (which is usually the worst), you could buy it at a place of business, and leave without feeling shifty. It would be a breath of fresh air for recreational users.

That neighbor? Might take it upon themselves to supply the recreational demand in this new emerging market. Let’s say they have their medical card and are a medical patient – it wouldn’t take much to go in the local dispensary with a chunk of change and buy some weed worth flipping. Suddenly the demand is too high and there’s a whole team of people selling weed illegally. They don’t care if you’re 21, or if you’re getting it because you feel “nauseous” – all they care is that you’ve got money. We could nip that scenario in the bud by cutting out the middleman. The legal source right now (cough, since plants aren’t growing just yet) is dispensaries, and it will be that way for months. If there was measure proposed that amended this, it would mean more money, and more legality.

Regulating recreational users needs to happen right now. Shifting everything from the black market to the legal one is crucial right now. Recreational is available only for those 21 and up. Each household will be able to have four plants – but the longer people have to wait, the more tempting it is to grow more weed. If recreational was available by the end of the summer, the benefits would outweigh the costs. And in the meantime? We’re just days away from more history being made!

Recreational marijuana in Portland is just around the corner, and so are the recreational laws. This July 1st, Measure 91 officially takes effect. It allows for people in Oregon to grow, smoke, and consume marijuana and marijuana products. It’s going to be awesome as as it sounds, but there are some expected speed bumps. The website whatslegaloregon.com breaks it down nicely – what is and is not allowed come July 1st.

Essentially, you can grow a personal supply and use it in most ways – except “homemade marijuana extracts” (section 57). Making your own concentrates will still be illegal. But, the law allows for the gifting of marijuana items, as long as money is not involved. How can you get your hands on recreational concentrates? Well, let’s say a friend is a medical patient and just happens to bring some legal “marijuana extract” to the dab session. If they gift you some of their medications, their extracts, are you legally liable? Not explicitly, according to Measure 91. The measure’s lacking specificity leaves ample opportunity for loopholes.

Come July 1st, four marijuana plants are allowed per home (see section 6, exemption a). This applies per household, not per resident, so your house with four roomies still can’t have sixteen plants. But, Measure 91 does not specify the size limit of the plant (re: there isn’t one), so your four sativa plants, for example, can grow as tall as your grow unit allows. That means more buds, and a higher flower yield! But watch out, there is a limit of eight “useable” ounces per household (section 79). You can theoreteically have ten ounces curing and as long as the smokeable stuff is within 8 ounces, you’re good. Just prepare to gift what you can’t legally have when it’s all ready to smoke.

Section 46 says that Marijuana may not be given as a prize “for a lottery, contest, game of chance or skill, or competition of any kind.” Here the measure is oddly specific, which is good. If your friends are playing a game and smoking recreationally, and one person happens to both be in the lead and gifted marijuana… well, that’s within legal bounds. The key is to gift the marijuana or marijuana products before the game, contest, “competition of any kind,” has concluded. The primary definition of “prize” is “a thing given as a reward to the winner of a competition or race or in recognition of another outstanding achievement” (thanks, Google). Those summer BBQ games can still be fun – if your friend still hasn’t won recognition, it is legal to gift them marijuana like you would on any other occasion.

Measure 91 opens a lot of previously closed doors. With the ability to grow, harvest, and smoke your own product, people can partake in a much healthier industry. The law’s limitations are a good jumping off point, but for those of you who want to test the bounds, Measure 91 leaves open plenty of loopholes. I’ll leave you with this: happy hunting!

July 1st: the big date this summer. Measure 91 kicks in and Oregon legalizes recreational marijuana.

But, for cannabis professionals, July 1st isn’t the only important date this season. From July 29-30th, the Portland Expo Center is hosting the Creative Cannabis Conference. More than 20 sponsors, 38 speakers, and 600 “business professionals” will be in one place. The conference will showcase new leading technology, discuss new legal regulation, and present new techniques for retail/marketing. As with all like-minded professionals in the same field, networking is key, and the conference has invited some of the biggest industry names. So who’s on the roster?

Cy Scott, co-founder of the favorite app and website: Leafly, worked his way to the top of this industry. Leafly’s site hosts 4mil hits monthly. Its reviews of local strains and dispensaries make it something of a bible, and Cy Scott something of a co-messiah, for marijuana users.

Noah Stokes, the founder/CEO of CannaGuard Security, will also be presenting. What is CannaGuard Security? Unbeknownst to most of us, it’s an essential aspect of buying marijuana. They supply Northwest dispensaries with a security system tailored to the cannabis industry’s needs. Stokes earned a reputation within the industry as invaluable for protecting marijuana-users and non-users alike.

David Rheins is the founder of the Marijuana Business Association. The MJBA for short, is a way for Rheins and others, like Morgan, President/Founder of MJBA’s women’s alliance, to give back to the industry. The MJBA “provides business intelligence,” is a key source of networking, and is an asset to cannabis professionalism.

If you’’re familiar vaporizers, you may have heard of Vuber. Jim Makoso, the “founding partner” of Vuber Technologies in Seattle, will also be speaking. Specializing in both dry herb and concentrates, Vuber’s vapes have lifetime warrantees. In an industry where everything can break in an instant (lookin’ at you, glass), that care to customer satisfaction makes Makoso and Vuber keynote players.

Adam Stites made legal edibles happen in Washington State with his company Mirth Provisions. Using ingredients from local farms, Mirth Provisions provides both drinkables and edibles to the medical and recreational users in Washington. Stites is just another one of the almost 40 industry leaders speaking.

The list continues, chock-full of knowledgeable, respectable cannabis professionals. With recreational weed just around the corner, this conference is a great bookend to July. A month of celebrating, ended with the Creative Cannabis Conference, and the branding and professionalism of marijuana. If you consider yourself a cannabis professional, you’ll find the $245.00 Early Bird registration fee worth it (ends June 30th), and get your cannabis-infused self over to the Portland Expo Center from July 29-30th!

Perhaps Oregon has observed how Washington State handled their rollout of the legal industry, and wants to improve upon that. Washington didn’t give the medical marijuana dispensaries a temporary ability to sell recreational marijuana when they made legalization official in December of 2012. Instead, they basically waited until July 2014 for the first legal pot shop, Cannabis City, opened.

For more than a year and a half, marijuana was legal in Washington but their was no way to obtain it. Instead, a bunch of rogue delivery services, operating out of grey-area status, emerged to provide marijuana to adults over the age of 21. The most famous of these weed delivery services was the now defunct Winterlife Cooperative, which is now Winterlife Cannabis, a Washington state producer of edibles.

Allowing medical marijuana dispensaries a temporary order to sell recreational weed seems like a viable solution if the Oregon legislature approves. If not, Oregon could allow delivery services but be more proactive than Washington was.

Our prediction for this evening is that Measure 91 will pass and marijuana in Oregon will be legal for adults. Of course, if Oregon does win, there will be a long ways to go to launch the recreational marijuana industry.

Alaska and Washington D.C. will also be voting on recreational marijuana measures today. We predict that D.C. will win big but Alaska, we are not so sure. May just be too close to call. In fact, we might not even know by tonight.

If Oregon legalizes marijuana, then Portland could become the 3rd major US city to create an industry of recreational marijuana stores. I will be interesting to see how the recreational marijuana industry unfolds in the Rose City and how long it takes to get it off the ground.